Resource Centre
The Tasmanian Pastoral Resource Centre, as part of the Catholic Education Office, is housed at the D’Arcy Centre in New Town. It was founded some 30 years ago to assist catechists and teachers in parishes and schools with their ministry of faith development and Religious Education.
From a small collection it has now grown to some 10 000 print items and some 1300 audiovisuals.
Over the years an extraordinary array of people have used the Resource Centre but the majority of clients have been teachers and people working in parishes. Good News for Living – the Curriculum Framework for Religious Education in the Archdiocese of Hobart - is now driving the selection of new resources. There are also a number of people doing post-graduate studies such as the Graduate Certificate in Religious Education and the Masters of Educational Leadership with the bibliographies providing a valuable purchasing guide. Other courses such as the Diploma of Pastoral Ministry generate a good degree of borrowing from people outside the school system.
As well as a predominant Religious Education focus, the Resource Centre has a collection of many other items for those involved in teaching and learning. The Religious Education Officers and Education Officers from the Catholic Education Office have the Resource Centre’s materials at their disposal. They are the ones who often inform clients of new resources available as they travel around Tasmania. A good portion of the education material catalogued is housed with the specialist Education Officers – Religious Education, Literacy, Mathematics, Behaviour Support and Special Needs. These items are often ‘sub-leased’ to the wider community in schools and parishes.
Most of the resources are housed in Dewey order but there are separate collections for ‘Aboriginal Studies’ and a small one on ‘Death and Grieving’. Most of the resources are inter-shelved but there is a shelf for the video/DVD collection.
The Resource Centre’s holdings may be accessed through the Catholic Education Office website. Lists of resources under a variety of popular headings – Eucharist, Reconciliation, Prayer, Aboriginal Education, Picture Books, etc – are emailed to Religious Education Co-ordinators and parish personnel on a regular basis. The aim is to keep the Resource Centre in the forefront of people’s consciousness.
The Russian 17th century Icon of the Christ of Wisdom and Redemption has been in the Resource Centre for many years. It’s a constant reminder of the presence of the Risen Lord among us and that the Resource Centre is here to serve the education and faith needs of the school and parish communities of Tasmania. The Scriptures are also enthroned as a reminder that God’s Word is among us.